Yardlings, Sullivan Meet in Verbal Duel; Police Squelch Boos, Cat-Calls

One of Cambridge's quietest election campaigns came to a noisy close last night with a battle of sounds between freshmen in Strauss Hall and two of City Councillor Edward J. Sullivan's sound trucks

Sullivan, an independent candidate for reelection, pulled up in front of the Harvard Trust Company at 11:45 p.m. with the sound trucks and six cars. For several minutes Sullivan went into a verbal castigation of the Cambridge Civic Association.

Suddenly, windows began opening in Strauss Hall and freshmen booed and cat-called. The din became increasingly greater, and Sullivan yelled louder and louder into the microphone. Finally the students managed to drown out Sullivan.

For a while, it appeared that Sullivan had lost the battle of the sounds, but from the Yard appeared Sergeant Toomey who directed the students to close their windows. The noise subsided and Sullivan lashed out once again at the CCA.

But another complication arose. Edward F. Mahan, president of the CCA, walked by Sullivan's sound truck. Sullivan asked Mahan to refuse any of his attacks. Mahan agreed, and began walking toward the truck when a person sitting with Sullivan jumped out and grappeled with Mahan But two Cambridge policemen and several bystanders seized the unidentified Sullivan supporter and separated him from Mahan.

Sullivan then refused to allow Mahan to speak from his microphones, saying that only independent candidates could use them. Mahan consented and left. The few hundred people who watched the incident dispersed, and Sullivan departed.

Today, Cambridge voters will elect nine city councillors and five school committeemen. Although polling places close at 8 p.m. today, election results will not be tabulated for four or five days due to the proportional representation system of voting.

Meanwhile, James Michael Curley brought to a close one of the strangest campaigns for the Boston mayoralty ever waged by a big city political "boss" Although his name appears on the ballot tomorrow, Curley has not raised his voice Silent too has been the once formidable vote-getting machine that made him the city's mayor four times, Congressman four times, and Governor once.

Boston political observers predict that present Mayor John B. Hynes will win easily. But Hynes supporters are a bit uneasy. "A great many people think that this election is all over." Hynes told his workers last night. "You and I know it is not. It won't be over until the votes are counted.